Tuscany

Tuscany 1848-49 Under the rule of the Grand Duke Leopold II Tuscany
enjoyed a relatively more liberal regime than other Italian states.
In 1847, following the example of Pope Pius IX during his so-called
liberal phase, the grand duke had conceded numerous reforms,
reforms to which the Austrian Chancellor Metternich had strongly
objected threatening to occupy the Tuscany should Leopold persist
in liberalizing his government. When in 1848 news of the revolts
in southern Italy reached Tuscany, street riots, particularly in
the port city of Leghorn, open to all new radical ideas, brought
revolution to hitherto tranquil Tuscany. Elsewhere in the duchy
workers went on strike for higher wages; the unemployed demanded
a program of public works to create jobs; artisans protested the
introduction of machinery in some trades; and rising prices and
rents caused general discontent. On February 17, 1848 the grand
duke granted a Statuto, a term he deemed less radical
than constitution. Agitation was also growing to join the war
against Austria in the Italian League alongside other contingents
from the various Italian states. By the end of March the grand
duke agreed to do so. Elections on June 15 returned a moderate
parliament, but it criticized the government for its failure to
participate more actively in the conflict with Austria. These
criticisms found echo in the streets. While the grand duke
temporized and tried to follow a policy of non-commitment, his
moderate ministry negotiated with Rome and Turin in support of a
federation of all Italian states. Meanwhile, radicals were
following Giuseppe Mazzini in calling for a constituent assembly,
elected by universal manhood suffrage and charged with continuing
the struggle against Austria while preparing for eventual Italian
unity. Faced with growing restiveness, the grand duke left
Florence for Siena at the end of January 1849 and announced that he
could not accept a constituent assembly. On February 21, 1849, he
joined the Pppe in exile at Gaeta in the Neapolitan kingdom. His
flight created a power vacuum which parliament filled by appointing
a provisional government led by the triumvirate of Giuseppe
Montanelli, Francesco Domenico Guerrazzi, and Giuseppe Mazzoni.
Unable to meet demands for domestic reforms, the government lost
favor with the Florentines, who finding themselves no better off,
began to remember their grand duke nostalgically. Popular
dissatisfaction in the more conservative rural areas increased
while demands for the return of the grand duke swelled. Meanwhile
negotiations were proceeding for a possible fusion of Tuscany with
the Roman Republic into one state. Parliament dissolved the
provisional government and voted extraordinary powers to Guerrazzi,
but the Guerrazzi dictatorship lasted only fifteen days. After a
bloody clash between the Florentines and revolutionary bands from
Leghorn, moderates gained control of the Florence city government,
dissolved the Tuscan parliament, and arrested Guerrazzi. Overtures
were made to the grand duke for his return. On May 1, 1849, the
grand duke appointed a special commissioner and dissolved all other
government bodies. On July 28, 1849, the grand duke returned to
Florence under the protection of Austrian soldiers. Press
restrictions were reimposed, the ducal constitution suspended, and
absolute rule reestablished. On May 6, 1852, the constitution was
officially abolished and the status quo ante fully restored.
Emiliana P. Noether